The role and attitude of senior leaders in promoting group-based community physical activity: a qualitative study
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access
The role and attitude of senior leaders in promoting group-based community physical activity: a qualitative study Hiroko Komatsu1*, Kaori Yagasaki2, Yuko Oguma3, Yoshinobu Saito3,4 and Yasuhiro Komatsu5
Abstract Background: In the context of worldwide public health, it is very important to promote physical activity among the older people. This study explored the roles and attitudes of senior leaders in promoting group-based exercise in their local communities, specifically to determine the level and extent to which to elderly participation was encouraged. Methods: This study conducted semi-structured face-to-face in-depth interviews and employed a subsequent thematic analysis. Participants included 10 club leaders and five sub-leaders who were working at senior clubs in Fujisawa-city, Kanagawa, Japan, from July to September 2018. Results: Four themes emerged from the interview responses, including “unwavering attitude/conviction in relation to the vision,” “leaders must set an example,” “a search for balance in delegating responsibilities to members,” and “creating and fostering culture and environment of mutual help.” Further, each participant outlined several aims, including “achieving healthy longevity for the entire local community,” “having older people promote healthy activities among the older people,” and “creating a pro-health town.” Conclusions: Findings indicate that policymakers, public health workers, and healthcare providers should recognize the pivotal roles that senior group leaders play in promoting healthy activities for the older people. These efforts should be strongly considered when developing policies and strategies designed to promote overall healthy longevity from a general community perspective. Keywords: Older adults, Physical activity, Senior leader, Social participant, Healthy longevity
Background As the world population continues to age [1], it becomes increasingly important to maintain physical, cognitive, and social competencies among older adults. Indeed, the older people demographic has become a critical target for public health interventions [2]. In this regard, regular physical activity (PA) provides a range of health benefits for older adults. For instance, it is known to reduce the * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Japanese Red Cross Kyushu International College of Nursing, 1-1 Asty, Munakata-City, Fukuoka-Prefecture 811-4157, Japan Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers [3]. Further, accumulated evidence specifically shows the health benefits of regular PA for older adults [4], and many guidelines now promote PA for seniors [5, 6]. However, PA participation remains low among older adults in many nations, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom [7]. Studies have also shown that community-wide PA interventions have stronger effects on behavioral change compared to individually tailored interventions [8, 9]. Ou
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